FAYETTE, Iowa (June 21, 2013) – Stories of campus and respected UIU professors filled the conference room at Hillcrest Home care center in Sumner, Iowa, this week. Seven Upper Iowa University School of Education alumni enjoyed fellowship and cupcakes as they reminisced and shared personal stories of their college years and their teaching years with President Bill Duffy and First Lady Sharon Duffy.

"We were honored to share the afternoon with these Upper Iowa alumni," said UIU President William R. Duffy II, Ed.D, Ed.S. "These people are the roots of our institution and have such a valuable history to share. They are the reason Upper Iowa University continues to be successful. For decades, these esteemed School of Education graduates imparted their knowledge in their classrooms and made a positive impact in many young lives. Sharon and I were overjoyed to spend time with them. Their stories will be a welcome addition to our UIU archive project."

Upper Iowa University is in the process of gathering alumni stories and memorabilia for the University archives on the Fayette campus.

Among the Hillcrest Home group was Upper Iowa's oldest living alumna, Emma (Burkhart) Hough '26, who is 108-years-old. A double-major in English and biology, Hough was active on campus and one year was the women's tennis tournament champion. With her new honor, she was selected to coach the team while still in college. Upon graduation, Hough was hired as a physical education teacher and head girls basketball coach in her hometown of Sumner. She also taught school in Ironwood and Manistee, Mich., before retiring in 1969. She and her husband, Charles, lived in New York City during the summers to attend Columbia University's master's program. A full article regarding Hough's adventures at Upper Iowa and beyond can be read on the University's blog, Peacock Tales, at http://uiupeacocktales.tumblr.com/.

Betty C. Hoth '64 shared stories of not only attending Upper Iowa, but welcoming many UIU student-teachers into her kindergarten classroom at Durant Elementary in Sumner, Iowa. She laughed as she recalled a UIU professor who would observe the student-teachers in the classroom. "He would sit right down on one of those little kindergarten chairs with the kids!" she said. "I guess he wanted to be right down with the kids to see what it was like to learn from the Upper Iowa student-teachers." Hoth says she keeps in contact with many of her former student-teachers, especially at Christmas time.

Hoth also said that one of the professors she enjoyed was Dick Clark, a 1953 UIU alumnus and history professor from 1959-1967. He served as a United States Senator from Iowa from 1973-1979 and later became an ambassador at large and United States Coordinator for Refugee Affairs. "He was a great teacher," Hoth recalled. "He has a brilliant mind."

Lorraine Creager '66 and Lugene Treloar '71 had similar stories to tell. After raising their families, both went back to school to earn their teaching degrees from Upper Iowa. Creager taught a number of years for the Tripoli Community School District, while Treloar taught in the Fredericksburg School District for 21 years.

President Duffy also visited with Cal Harms '48, Almira Pease '31 and Becky (Harms) Read '74.A full gallery of the Presidential visit can be seen at www.flickr.com/photos/upperiowauniversity/.

Please contact the UIU Office of Advancement at 800-553-4150 (ext.3+2) or alumni@uiu.edu to schedule a presidential visit to a facility where Peacock Alumni call home.

President Bill Duffy poses with UIU's oldest living alumna Emma (Burkhart) Hough '26. She is 108-years-old.

President Bill Duffy and Cal Harms '48

President Duffy and Lorraine Creager '66

First Lady Sharon and President Duffy and Betty C. Hoth '64

About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to some 6,200 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.